How Important Are Battery Backup Units for Servers?

One question we’re commonly asked is whether or not battery backup units should be used for computer equipment like servers. The single-word answer to that question is yes. Since knowing that battery backup units should be used is probably enough to further pique your interest on this topic, we want to jump into a more detailed discussion about battery backup units.

The 3 Main Functions of Battery Backup Units

In addition to the phrase battery backup units, you may also hear this component referred to as an uninterrupted power supply. Often abbreviated as UPS, the function of a battery backup unit is to offer an additional layer of protection in the event of something like a power outage occurring. By having a UPS in place, you won’t have to worry about losing sensitive information in the event of a sudden outage. Instead, you’ll have an extra window of time to save the information. An uninterrupted power supply also helps to protect against data or system corruption.

To offer those different forms of protection, there are three main functions that battery backup units supply. The first is to provide power even when wall power is unavailable. As discussed above, this function means that even if utility power is cut off, data can be saved and a device can be properly shut down instead of abruptly cutting off.

The second function of an uninterrupted power supply involves a term you may have heard in other discussions about servers. That term is clean power. In this context, clean power doesn’t refer to things like fossil fuels. Instead, it refers to power that is consistent in its frequency and voltage. In an ideal world, the power from the wall would always be clean. But in reality, the power that’s delivered varies greatly.

When that power goes straight to a server, the device has to work hard to properly clean it before being used. This can take a toll on hardware and cause it to wear out prematurely. What’s great about the second function of a UPS is it’s designed to take on that role. Because it’s fully optimized for cleaning, it can extend the lifespan of hardware.

Last but not least, an uninterrupted power supply is able to send a signal to a server, computer or other piece of hardware to let it know that the power has shut off. By acting as a buffer, the UPS provides a way for devices to properly shut down or be transferred to another power source. As with handling the process of cleaning power, this type of buffer will extend the lifespan of hardware.

If you have any additional questions about optimizing your server performance and lifespan with help from battery backup units, you can easily get in touch with us by calling (513) 206-9971